January 15, 2025
By Tab Bamford

CHICAGO, IL — We’ve reached the middle of January, and gracefully enter the crazy season of trade talk, arguing over which coach should be the next one updating his LinkedIn profile and, in some cities, moving attention to the 2025 NHL Draft already.

Entering Wednesday, the Buffalo Sabres are the only team in the Eastern Conference not within eight points of a wildcard spot. The two teams in those spots in the East: Boston and Columbus. And five teams are within four points of the Blue Jackets.

In the Western Conference, there are three teams at least 14 points out of the second wildcard spot. Most people expected Chicago and San Jose to be out of the playoff picture, but Nashville remaining in the basement continues to be fascinating. There are five teams within eight points of Calgary for the second wildcard spot in the West.

Awaiting those teams at the bottom of the standing: an exciting draft class with four players making a legitimate case to be the No. 1 overall pick – but it doesn’t look like there’s a top tier superstar prospect like Connor Bedard and Macklin Celebrini from the last two years.

Let’s get into our mid-January Power Rankings.

As always, feel free to let us know what’s perfectly right and where we’re completely, horribly wrong.

32. Chicago Blackhawks

The coaching change didn’t help; they’re actually worse since they fired Luke Richardson. Seth Jones is the target of the fans’ frustration. Bedard keeps putting up points, though.

31. Pittsburgh Penguins

With a 2-5-3 record in their last 10 starts, the Pens are back sliding in the wrong direction. At least they can still cheer for Sid and Geno.

30. San Jose Sharks

The Sharks join the Blackhawks as the only teams with a sub-.400 point percentage in the league. But hey, Celebrini is special, right?

29. Utah Hockey Club

The fightin’ Utes are just 2-7-1 in their last 10 games and have fallen into a bad spot in the Western Conference playoff race. But the Central is letting them stay relevant.

28. Nashville Predators

They get the Blackhawks at home on Thursday night, where they’ve been good. On the road? The Preds are only 5-14-4 thus far.

27. Buffalo Sabres

The Sabres are still just 8-11-3 on home ice this season. Every time they seem to be ready to turn a corner, they just… don’t.

26. Seattle Kraken

Scoring hasn’t been a huge issue. Defense hasn’t been great. They just can’t ever seem to get hot for an extended period.

25. Anaheim Ducks

One of four teams with a goal differential of at least minus-30 (with Chicago, Pittsburgh and San Jose), the Ducks need to clean up the defensive end of the ice.

24. New York Islanders

The Isles are 5-5-0 in their last 10 and have actually been better on the road than at home. When will they address their offense? I know… that isn’t a new question.

23. Boston Bruins

With just a 3-6-1 record in their last 10, the Bruins might need to talk more about their performance than radio hosts making up fights between Marchand and Pastrňák.

22. Vancouver Canucks

Speaking of teammates not getting along, the Canucks are 3-4-3 in their last 10 and continue to be more involved in trade rumours than conversation about potential Pacific Division winners.

21. New York Rangers

The definition of a .500 team, the Rangers are just that at home and on the road. They’re only 4-4-2 in their last 10 games.

20. Philadelphia Flyers

The Flyers match the Rangers’ 4-4-2 in their last 10 and have a one-point edge in the standings (NYR have two games in-hand, however).

19. St. Louis Blues

A 6-4-0 stretch over their last 10 has made the Blues an intriguing team in the messy Western Conference wildcard race.

18. Ottawa Senators

The Sens picked a bad time to go 4-5-1 over a 10-game period with Columbus and Detroit getting hot. Why have an easy road back into the postseason?

17. Tampa Bay Lightning

The Bolts slide this week because they’re only 4-5-1 in their last 10 and some teams are inching closer in their rearview mirror in the wild card race.

16. Montreal Canadiens

The Habs are hot! At 7-2-1 in their last 10 games, Montreal has legitimate playoff dreams right now.

15. Detroit Red Wings

Proof that the coaching bump is very real, the Wings are 7-3-1 in their last 10 games and have climbed into the playoff discussion.

14. Calgary Flames

The Flames improved to 7-9-4 with a win over the lifeless Blackhawks on Monday night. They’ve been good at home (14-6-3).

13. Columbus Blue Jackets

Winners of five straight and eight of their last ten, the Blue Jackets might be the best story in the NHL this season. After a heartbreaking summer, they’re a legit playoff contender now.

12. Florida Panthers

The defending champs aren’t in a bad spot right now, but they aren’t hot by any means. They know they have work to do and know how to do it. Worry level: zero.

11. New Jersey Devils

Going 4-4-2 in their last 10 is concerning at this point for the Devils, but their season has been good enough that they’re squarely in the playoff picture. Their point percentage is still solid (.620).

10. Carolina Hurricanes

The Canes are 5-3-2 in their last 10 and are under .500 on the road. They’re a good team that might just need one more piece… again.

9. Colorado Avalanche

The Avs are heating up. They solved their goaltending issues and are 7-2-1 in their last 10.

8. Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews is back, and the Leafs appear to be ready to roll. Assuming they can stay healthy. Again. Toronto is 6-4-0 in their last 10 games.

7. Vegas Golden Knights

Vegas is one of three teams to reach the 60-point plateau already and are 18-6-0 at home. All very good. There are just some hotter teams in the league right now.

6. Los Angeles Kings

Los Angeles is dealing with much bigger concerns than hockey right now and we’re all thinking about that reality. The Kings are 14-2-1 at home and 6-3-1 in their last 10 games.

5. Edmonton Oilers

The Oilers are 7-2-1 in their last 10 starts and are rolling again. There have been a lot of nights lately when Leon Draisaitl appears to be unstoppable.

4. Minnesota Wild

The Wild are 16-4-3 away from home and have won seven of their last ten games. They just need to get and stay healthy for long enough to cement their spot in the Central Division’s top three. Which isn’t an easy task these days.

3. Winnipeg Jets

The Jets’ plus-53 goal differential is best in the league, and they have the most points in the Western Conference (Dallas has two games in-hand, however).

2. Washington Capitals

The Caps have the best record and goal differential (plus-53) in the Eastern Conference. And now Ovi’s back and attacking the chase of Gretzky’s goal record.

1. Dallas Stars

With an 8-1-1 record in their last 10, the Stars have sprinted to the top of our power rankings this week. They’re 16-5-1 on their home ice and their plus-35 goal differential is third in the league.